What a temperature swing we’re having this week! Last week’s highest temps (~75 degrees F) are this week’s forecasted lowest nighttime temps, so instead of encouraging you to get outside, I think I might hold off until this extreme heat advisory has lifted.
In the meantime, I hope you’ll take a few minutes (preferably in a cool room with a fan blowing) to join me on a virtual tour to see what’s happening outside your window!
Field sparrow nest with eggs
Despite the summer heat, nature continues to thrive. If you visit a local prairie this time of year, you just might stumble upon one of its best-kept secrets: a perfectly crafted bird nest tucked away among the grasses. That happened to me recently while visiting Patrick Marsh with our summer Prairie Partners interns.
We’re currently in the heart of the grassland bird nesting season. Although field sparrows aren’t technically considered grassland birds, they often build their nests and raise their young in prairies and other grassy habitats. The tiny eggs, each no larger than a jellybean, were carefully hidden among the stems. It was such a joy to discover this little nest and a wonderful reminder of how much life is quietly unfolding all around us.
Porcupine needlegrass seeds
Summertime also means it’s seed collection season! In preparation for our annual prairie plantings, we begin collecting native seed in the spring and continue through late fall. One of the first native cool-season grasses to produce seed is porcupine needlegrass, so we have to gather it before the seeds all fall to the ground.
Porcupine needlegrass has a fascinating adaptation that allows it to plant itself. Each pointed seed is attached to a long, twisted structure called an awn. As the seed dries after falling from the plant, the awn twists and untwists in response to changes in humidity, gradually corkscrewing the seed into the soil. In the photo above, you can see porcupine needlegrass on the day it was collected (left) and again a few days later (right), after the awns had dried and curled into tight spirals.
When it’s time to plant these seeds, I’ll carefully snip off the awns and hand-plant them in areas where they’re most likely to thrive. It’s a tedious process, but seeing this beautiful grass become established in a new prairie makes every minute worthwhile.
Baby American toad
Those little tadpoles you’ve been seeing along the edges of ponds have grown legs and are beginning their lives on land! I was recently visiting a friend who has a small backyard pond that’s home to all sorts of fascinating wildlife.
As we walked around the pond, we noticed dozens of tiny, black, insect-like creatures hopping through the grass. At first, I thought they were little crickets because of their size and color. But after taking a closer look, I realized they were actually tiny new toads! They were no bigger than my fingernail and were making their first journey away from the water. It was such an unexpected and delightful discovery, and a wonderful reminder that some of nature’s greatest surprises come in the smallest packages.
Gray treefrog
Lastly, I’ll leave you with this adorable little gray treefrog that we found during a recent volunteer workday at Westport Prairie. This tiny amphibian looked like it had been waiting all morning for a photo shoot. With its little arms folded beneath it and what appeared to be a satisfied smile, it was impossible not to grin right back. Encounters like this are just one of the many reasons I love spending time outdoors.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this month’s virtual tour of nature as it’s happening. See you next month!